Women of Web 2.0 Show #40

Welcome to the #40th show for Women of Web 2.0. While Sharon and Cheryl held down the fort, we were missing Vicki, who was down with a huge headache, and Jen who happened to be working late. We had great guests who helped us through the show. You will enjoy all the comments and the chat as well.

Comments & Questions:(from Jen)
#1 -- What tech tool or tech skill do you want your teachers to know that you find is most important to you!!
#2 -- What incentives or perks do you give to your teachers who use the tools of tech?
#3 -- What kind of relationship do you have with your IT staff? Do you have expectations, concerns, requirements??
#4 -- Do you offer any kind of mentoring or peer-teaching opportunities?
#5 -- What is the most important statement you want your teachers to hear you say about their teaching? (with or without tech)

other items:

Sharon's Questions:

What special vision do you carry with you into the new
year as a leader for your school/district?(for yourself? for your
staff? for your students?)

As we have all had the
opportunity to regroup and refresh over the summer after a year of
explosion of web 2.0 tools, is there a "killer app" that you are
particularly excited about for the new academic year?

What kind of professional development activities are you encouraging your staff to undertake this year.

21:40:04 CathyNelson -> EdTechTalk: we distit lib people meet once a nineweeks

21:40:09 njtechteacher (ann) -> EdTechTalk: I think so many adults think that blogs, social networks are just for kids, I showed a friend and she's excited now.

21:40:16 charbeck -> EdTechTalk: It takes time to get involved. It takes commitment to get involved. With everything else teachers have to do it takes a powerful salesperson to get them involved. I always say baby steps. Once most take the first baby steps they get hooked and want more.

21:47:45 JenniferW -> EdTechTalk: Today our ADMIN had a breakthrough -- he literally SAID that he realized he was tempting teachers with tech (like a cookie jar) but then having a LOCK on the cookie jar when they went to use it.

21:47:47 carolynf -> EdTechTalk: we need to hear more student voices

21:47:56 JenniferW -> EdTechTalk: He told me to work on fixing this ---- :)

21:47:57 carolynf -> EdTechTalk: wow, Jennifer!!!!

21:48:01 KarenJanowski -> EdTechTalk: yes, involve our students1

21:48:03 whscareertech -> EdTechTalk: Filters ... some are helpful in a lab class. Others are frustrating!

21:48:04 mmiller -> EdTechTalk: You go girl!!!

21:48:09 JenniferW -> EdTechTalk: I was shocked

21:48:10 cheryloakes wow2 -> EdTechTalk: nice job Jen

21:48:12 charbeck -> EdTechTalk: Get them to do work with these tools at home. "homework" that gets done. 21stC learning happens at home too. It is amazing what parents say when they see their kids interaciting with school this way

21:48:12 janices -> EdTechTalk: It's what most every classroom looks like. Many teachers don't like to give up control. We need to help them

21:48:12 JenniferW -> EdTechTalk: but he was SOOOO right

21:48:15 alicebarr -> EdTechTalk: I am meeting with a student group tomorrow so thi sis great to hear about

21:48:25 JenniferW -> EdTechTalk: and so we ordered 10 more projectors

21:57:50 JenniferW -> EdTechTalk: it is fun to be a pot-stirrer at times :)

21:57:50 CathyNelson -> EdTechTalk: make them see they know how

21:57:50 KarenJanowski -> EdTechTalk: Jen, why are they still there?

21:57:53 janices -> EdTechTalk: You have your battle to fight this year, Jen

21:57:57 carolynf -> EdTechTalk: lol..vicky and i are at the same school

21:57:59 sharonp -> EdTechTalk: carolynf - been there! once had technicians told me not to touch anything! It was their problem and we needed to call them .... good grief - teach me how to troubleshoot

21:58:00 JenniferW -> EdTechTalk: because I have only been here 1 year so far

21:58:01 carolynf -> EdTechTalk: (whscareertech)

21:58:03 joycevalenza -> EdTechTalk: i know they do with you, CF!

21:58:08 JenniferW -> EdTechTalk: they are now seeing what COULD be

21:58:08 cheryloakes wow2 -> EdTechTalk: right, Linda, tech needs to share information, not just take the problem adn solve it in the dark

21:58:32 carolynf -> EdTechTalk: but what about radical transparency for tech departments as well.

21:58:37 JenniferW -> EdTechTalk: so it is a TERRIBY EXCITING PLACE to be

21:58:42 JenniferW -> EdTechTalk: TERRIBLY

21:58:46 njtechteacher (ann) -> EdTechTalk: I had a teacher ask today when I was going to set up her computers. I kindly told her, just plug them in.

Comments

I linked to this discussion from Miguel's blog, interested to read about teachers troubleshooting the equipment in their rooms. I encourage all of you to assume that all of the teachers who listen to your discussions and read your blogs work in districts like mine. In my medium sized district I have the same user permissions as my students. However, I do have access to the teacher drive which is rarely used by teachers. I am not allowed to download anything, can't move equipment (even the mouse from right to left of the computer as it is zip tied down), stop a print job, and access to Youtube, Skype, Google docs...all are blocked.

Most teachers I know do not want to rely on a library media specialist or wait for an overworked network services fellow to come and clear the print queue or download a free program like PhotoStory. We want to be empowered and trusted to fix minor hardware problems and have access to the software and Web 2.0 tools we think will support our instruction. I don't want to sound discouraging but the time has passed for sugar coating the current situation.

Sadly, labeling teachers as "rocks" or "moody" does little to improve the use of new technologies and discourages teachers from joining discussions. It also continues to create a divide between teachers and library media specialists. It would be interesting to listen to a conversation or read a chat that included teachers who have waded into the shallow end of the pool, willing to take the first of many lessons that will enable them to swim.

My personal take on the situation is that I can't wait for my district or my library media specialist to support technology integration in my school. In the past I have written grants that changed my classroom. This year, again with the help of grants and encouragement from my principal, I am intent on building a small learning community within my school that will change the way technology is being used building wide.

I am working with two veteran teachers who some might have considered rocks before this year. In the first two weeks of school they have used their new projectors, document cameras, and tablet computers to support science and math instruction. We have no timeline and there are no fixed plans or goals, yet they are experimenting with their new toys and couldn't be happier. By years end they will have come right up the leading edge because they have significant experience with content and curriculum; which makes using technology nothing harder than learning what their new tools can do and what buttons to push to make it work. I am captivated by the passion with which they teach math and science; the high tech tools they choose to use seem to disappear as soon as they begin to teach.

Our small group of three should grow by years end, not because of any mandate or push from above, but because of the excitement that surrounds the lessons that are being enhanced with technology. The whole process is open and invitational. Which brings me back to empowering and trusting teachers. Invite them to your discussions, provide them with the tools they need, and trust them to troubleshoot; you may be surprised by what your moody rocks can do. It might be nice to invite the IT guys too; perhaps when they see what teachers want to and can do they may be more willing to ease up on the controls!

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